The War of the Ages Still Rages

 Today we Honour the observance of Memorial Day. We remember our soldiers who have “given” their lives for our Freedom. We Pray for those who are valiantly serving today. For nearly 150 years, Americans have gathered in late spring to honor the sacrifice of those who have given their lives in service for our Freedom. What began with dozens of informal commemorations of those killed in the Civil War has grown to become one of the nation’s most solemn and hallowed holidays. While the first commemorative Memorial Day events weren’t held in the United States until the late 19th century, the practice of honoring those who have fallen in battle dates back thousands of years. The ancient Greeks and Romans held annual days of remembrance for their soldiers who had fallen in battle. One of the first known public tributes to war dead was in 431 B.C. It wasn’t until America’s entry into World War I that the tradition was expanded to include those killed in all wars, and Memorial Day was not officially recognized nationwide until the 1970s, with America deeply embroiled in the Vietnam War. rituals still on the books: Standard Tradition: The American flag should be hung at half-staff until noon on Memorial Day, then raised to the top of the staff. And since 2000, when the U.S. Congress passed legislation, all Americans are encouraged to pause for a National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. local time. The hot spots of conflict today continue… Middle East, North Korea, and let’s not forget our beloved Israel, the Yon Kippur war – 6 day war. At last count it is said: 1.17 million men and women have died to create and maintain the freedoms outlined in our Constitution.  Mankind has always searched for Peace! There is only One Peace that passes all understanding … “The Peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” The war for Peace rages. It is not only a war of the world, it is a war of Spiritual depth. Wars raged throughout the Old Testament, God against evil; the works of satan the defector of Heaven. satan is rampant, but God is more powerful than the works of darkness. While humanity is unsettled, and the war rages within the breast of mankind, God stands with open arms to give His Peace, sending Jesus to eradicate sin and the evil works of demonic oppression. Embrace the Word of the Lord for it comforts and dispels our fears. Ps. 55:16 “As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me. He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me:” 2 Pet.1:2 Grace and Peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord. Peace and Love Always, Pastor

What is Precious To Us?”

Precious is defined as: Of Great Value; Premium, even more then Price; Highly esteemed; Highly Cherished; Let us give a few moments this morning to contemplate upon what is Precious to us! I hear this term used often in our society of many different things.  I rarely have ever noticed someone using this term about themselves. Yet as we go to the Scriptures we find the Word “Precious” used many times.  It is of great interest to note what the Bible teaches about “Precious.”  In Deut 33; The Word of God talks about Joseph being blessed, with gold & silver?  Welll ... Let’s listen in as God speaks: “Joseph, Blessed of the Lord be his land!” – for the “Precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep ... for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the Precious things of the lasting hills, for the Precious things of earth and the fulness thereof.” First we notice, these are things that can not be purchased, they are Precious gifts from God for His people.  I wonder how Precious we deem the creative things of God?  I’m sure we note that summer is welcomed, rain drops in the spring are beautiful as they drip from the new green leaves, or the mountains majestic, the ocean swells, but are they Precious to us?  Job declares “God putteth forth His hand upon the rock; He overturned the mountains by the roots, He cutteth out rivers among the rocks ... His eye seeth every Precious thing!”  James reminds us that we are “The Precious Fruit of the earth.”  The hour is here, His eye is upon us – How Precious is our God, how Precious is His creation to us?  Most important How Precious is Jesus, the Son of the Living God, to us?  How Precious is our Salvation, what will we do to be an example of the Believer?  The Psalmist clarifies most powerfully our Salvation: Ps. 49:7-9 “No one can by any means Redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:  For the Redemption of their soul is Precious ...”  We hear the Words of Isa. “Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a Stone, a Tried Stone, a Precious Corner Stone, a Sure Foundation:” O Give thanks for the “Precious Blood of Jesus!” He has Redeemed us as only He can!  And we have obtained “exceeding Great and Precious Promises! Loving you – you are precious to me, Pastor

A Message After Resurrection

According to Scripture there were some 12 Appearances of Jesus in the 40 days after His Resurrection, before His Ascension. As we look at these appearances there are Messages that we see.  Everyone might see a different Message, but the heart of Christ was being revealed once more to His followers that had so terribly disappointed Him. Even as the Messages came that Jesus was alive, they doubted. Matt 28:16-17 gives us this insight: “Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw Him, they worshipped Him: but some doubted.  It seemed they had difficulty recognizing Him on various occasions.  We talked about this last week: As they were fishing, Jesus called to them from the shore, it took a moment for them to recognize Him. In this we see the Patience of Jesus. Then there was Mary Magdalene the first to see Him after Resurrection, early in the morning. She began weeping because she thought someone had taken Him away. She did not recognize Him until she heard His Voice. Two thoughts here: “My Sheep know My Voice.” – He knows our Name, softly comes His voice, Mary.  He no doubt waits for her, He waits for you and for me!  He comes along side two of His Disciples who have left the city for fear and great sorrow.  They don’t recognize Him. Jesus sees their sadness and questions them as they journey along to Emmaus. He often walks with us in our moments of sorrow, and perhaps we don’t recognize Him.  He reveals Himself to them by “breaking of bread.”  And their response was: “Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the Scriptures?” Again we see the Patience of Jesus, His compassion, and His Love for God’s Word.  If we would respond to the Word of God in our trials, we would be comforted.  And perhaps our heart would also burn within us!  Of course we talked about Thomas and the powerful Words of Jesus to us – those who have not seen Him, but believe – we are Blessed! Jesus met with James His brother and out of that meeting came the Precious Book of James.  Paul writes about the meeting of 500 followers in 1Cor. 15:6. His final Resurrection Message to His Followers – face to face – “I send the Promise of My Father upon you: Terry ye in Jerusalem, until ye be endured with Power form on High!” O Holy Ghost burn in us.    Loving you, Pastor